Petrol Volvo V50: MOT pass rate

62.6% of petrol Volvo V50s pass the MOT first time, measured across 5,975 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 112,753.

Petrol against the other Volvo V50 versions

Why the fuel type changes the number

Petrol cars avoid the DPF and emissions failures that catch diesels, and usually fail on the same consumables as any other car.

On the Volvo V50 specifically, petrol is the strongest at 62.6%, and this petrol version sits 1.8 points above the 60.8% model average.

What it means if you are buying one

The petrol Volvo V50 is the stronger side of this model on MOT data. Still judge the individual car, but the fuel type is a mild point in its favour. Buying a damaged one? run it through the analyzer, check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.

Mileage is part of the answer

The average petrol Volvo V50 had covered 112,753 miles at test, against 135,869 for the diesel. That is high mileage, so timing belts, clutches, suspension bushes and corrosion are the items worth budgeting for rather than the MOT itself.

Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Volvo V50 page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.

Most common MOT failures on a petrol Volvo V50

1. Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction, 4.8% of tests (3.78x the national rate for this defect)
2. A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 5.7% of tests (3.73x the national rate for this defect)
3. Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc, 2.6% of tests (3.55x the national rate for this defect)
4. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 3.2% of tests (3.36x the national rate for this defect)
5. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 2.9% of tests (2.87x the national rate for this defect)
6. Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement, 3.4% of tests (2.6x the national rate for this defect)
7. A tyre cords visible or damaged, 3.8% of tests (2.28x the national rate for this defect)
8. A lamp missing, inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning, 5% of tests (2.23x the national rate for this defect)
9. The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements, 5% of tests (2.11x the national rate for this defect)
10. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 4.7% of tests (2.05x the national rate for this defect)

From 6,050 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo V50 tests, 2024, split out from the Volvo V50's other fuel types. DVSA testers marked 4.92% of these flagged defects as "dangerous", against 5.11% nationally. See which fuel type fails on the most dangerous defects nationally for how that compares across the whole fleet.

Most common MOT advisories on a petrol Volvo V50

Flagged but doesn't fail the car, a different list from the failures above.

1. Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning, 3% of tests (12.25x the national rate for this defect)
2. Exhaust system leaking or insecure, 10.1% of tests (3.55x the national rate for this defect), also fails
3. Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements, 4.3% of tests (3.17x the national rate for this defect)
4. A suspension component excessively damaged or corroded, 14.5% of tests (2.8x the national rate for this defect)
5. A wheel badly distorted or wear between wheel and hub at spigot mounting, 2.7% of tests (2.57x the national rate for this defect)
6. A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened, 11.9% of tests (2.51x the national rate for this defect), also fails
7. Number plate inscription missing or illegible, 5.6% of tests (2.1x the national rate for this defect)
8. A suspension pin, bush or joint excessively worn, 23.8% of tests (1.78x the national rate for this defect)
9. A shock absorber damaged to the extent that it does not function or showing signs of severe leakage, 5.2% of tests (1.34x the national rate for this defect), also fails
10. Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements, 35.4% of tests (1.33x the national rate for this defect)

From 6,050 DVSA-tracked petrol Volvo V50 tests, 2024.

Other Volvo V50 fuel types

• Diesel Volvo V50 - 60.4%

All Volvo V50 MOT data · Every model